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The available studies on contingency planning in projects lack an effective method for accurately estimating time contingencies because they (1) do not account for historically unprecedented disruptions, (2) produce estimation errors for low-probability and high-impact events and (3) do not consider the disproportionate impact of disruptive events on project resources. With this in mind, this research posits that the notion of resilience is central to contingency planning because understanding disruptions is directly interconnected with modelling and measuring resilience to disruptions. As a result, a method for estimating time contingency is presented in which resilience is used to describe the disruption and recovery profiles of project activities. The proposed method is applied in a real-life construction project to demonstrate its capability. In addition, a case study from the literature is selected to compare the proposed method with a critical chain project management solution. The results show that an accurate forecast of time contingency requires precise information about the specific impact of a disruptive event on project resources across various stages of disruptions. From a practical standpoint, the proposed method assists project managers and key stakeholders in the delay analysis of disrupted projects, as well as in developing cost-effective resource management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relief supply inventories are important in disaster response operations. To address the problem of dead stocks and avoid relief supply expiration, such inventories must be renewed periodically. Different from the traditional shelf-life rotation mechanism (i.e. renewal of the entire inventory at the expiration date), which pays more attention to decreasing the quantity of dead stocks, the novel period rotation mechanism that we design in this study will gradually rotate relief supplies according to their shelf life. We propose a mathematical programming model to minimise the total cost of relief organisations and conduct a case study and analyse the sensitivity of key parameters using real-world data. Results show that our rotation mechanism can substantially reduce the financial burden on relief organisations and improve the quality of relief supplies for victims. The novelty of our study includes: (1) We introduce a new approach that can rotate multiple times, through which we consider the quality of relief supplies; (2) We incorporate recycling and remanufacturing into the rotation process; and (3) We adopt an inductive reasoning method to develop the model with demand and time uncertainties. We prove the feasibility of our model and contributions of our study to humanitarian logistics practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian subcontinent is highly susceptible to natural disasters. To abate the effect of the disasters, the government emanates institutional mechanisms and strategies for disaster preparedness, mitigation and response. Although there is well-established institutional framework in India for disaster management, there is no study that proposes a disaster supply chain structure under the institutional framework and integrates information and digital technologies (IDT) of industry 4.0 within it. The present study overcomes this research gap. It introduces an IDT structure within the institutional framework of India for multi-agency information sharing, coordination and decision making. It formulates a mathematical model and analyses the impact of IDT on the total response time through three scenarios. The results of scenario analysis reveal the significance of IDT on the disaster supply chains and its capability to handle information delays and IDT failure. The present study can be adopted by disaster management institutions to construct and implement better response practices at the operational, planning and strategic levels. Furthermore, the proposed model in the study can be used for vaccination planning, which includes vaccine distribution, monitoring, regulation and effective implmentation as a response against the current pandemic situation caused due to SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk management is an essential component of effective campus recreational sport programming. However, research on risk management policies, procedures, and practices within recreational sports is both limited and outdated. As such, this study provides an overview of current risk management policies, procedures, and practices across North American collegiate recreational sports departments. Specifically, the results emphasize current training practices for both part-time and full-time staff, practices in establishing and updating emergency action plans, and contents covered in emergency action plans. The results suggest that while the vast majority of recreational sport programs have established risk management procedures and engage in risk management training, they diverge in best practices related to emergency action plans and in terms of contents covered in such plans. Applications of these results for practitioners and institutions are emphasized, including discussions around best practices in risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive safety assessment of hydrogen production using Alkaline Water Electrolysis (AWE). The study utilizes various risk assessment methodologies, including Hazard Identification (HAZID), What-If analysis, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Event Tree Analysis (ETA), and Bow Tie analysis, to systematically identify and evaluate potential hazards associated with the AWE process. Key findings include the identification of critical hazards such as hydrogen leaks, oxygen-related risks, and maintenance challenges. The assessment emphasizes the importance of robust safety measures, including preventive and mitigative strategies, to manage these risks effectively. Consequence modeling highlights significant threat zones for thermal radiation and explosion risks, underscoring the need for comprehensive safety protocols and emergency response plans. This work contributes valuable insights into hydrogen safety, providing a framework for risk assessment and mitigation in hydrogen production facilities, crucial for the safe and sustainable development of hydrogen infrastructure in the global energy transition. • Comprehensive safety assessment of hydrogen production via Alkaline Water Electrolysis. • Identification of critical hazards including hydrogen leaks and oxygen-related risks. • Consequence modeling for unignited hydrogen releases and jet fire scenarios. • Emphasis on robust safety protocols and emergency response measures. • Provides practical insights for risk mitigation in hydrogen production facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Disaster responders are an important part of disaster response. However, despite large efforts to train disaster responders, there is a limited scientific knowledge regarding which competences and skills such responders value and lack during a real mission. The aim of this study was to investigate used and needed skills among disaster responders responding to the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria 2023 Methods: A cross-sectional study using a non-randomized sample was conducted, collected between March and July, 2023. The participants were recruited through invitations distributed to international organizations, and the data were gathered through a web-based survey. The data were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics. Results: A total of 525 participants involved in the disaster response in Türkiye or Syria in February 2023 were included. The most common valued skills were teamwork skills (n = 252, 59%), technical knowledge (n = 204, 48%), leadership skills (n = 105, 24%) and communication skills (n = 114, 17%). Women valued stress management (n = 33, 26%) more than leadership (n = 24, 19%) Technical knowledges were more valued among first-time responders (n = 168, 82%) compared to experienced responders (n = 108, 54%, p-value < 0.001). The most reported lacked skills were mental preparedness (n = 237, 53%), knowledge of the management system of international response (n = 132, 30%), stress management (n = 105, 24%) and leadership (n = 102, 23%). Conclusion: The results showed slightly different needs in the various phases of a response, as well as some differences between men and women. Improving mental preparedness was not one of the most highly valued skills, but it was one of the skills that was most lacking; this discrepancy is an interesting finding. More in-depth analysis and additional studies are needed to further understand how best to prepare disaster responders and how their training can include the desirable skills. Further studies should be focused on the experience and knowledge of qualified disaster responders. This knowledge could also be of use when recruiting since several of the non-technical skills are not only gained solely through specific training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT California faces increasing wildfire frequency and severity, necessitating effective firefighting strategies along with well‐located infrastructure. Hydrants are vital for urban safety and must comply with established standards to adequately protect people and property. One such standard involves hydrant spacing, critical for ensuring effective emergency response in the event of a fire. Traditional geographic information systems techniques are not well suited to fully assess hydrant networks, especially in the context of spacing given complex road network geographies. This paper introduces an innovative approach to assess hydrant spacing. The developed technique is applied in the evaluation of infrastructure in Santa Barbara, California. The results reveal significant code violations along streets throughout the region, suggesting clustered pockets of vulnerability and risk. Potential strategies emerge from this analysis to enhance firefighting preparedness, offering guidance to local agencies regarding hydrant system limitations across this fire‐prone region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates long-term adaptation and resilience to floods at World Heritage sites through a case study of Hoi An Ancient Town, Quang Nam, Vietnam. Drawing on fieldwork observation, document review, and unstructured interviews conducted in Hoi An, we examine the enduring processes and experiences of co-living with floods. The article considers residents’ ability to comprehend, acknowledge, and address the challenges of flooding using the conceptual lens of adaptation and adversity acceptance as resilience. Our findings reveal an inseparable bond between residents and their built environment, encompassing invaluable lessons and experiences, local beliefs, resource availability, and adaptive strategies aimed at harmonious cohabitation with flooding described as ‘leaning into nature’. Strikingly, residents have developed their own practices and identities shaped by the town’s inundation by flood waters over a few centuries. Various modern flood prevention measures trace their origins to historical efforts, underscoring the vital role of traditional knowledge and practices in coping with the impacts of climate change. Those efforts are also framed within the local policy context such as Heritage Management Plan, Disaster Risk Management Plan, and Regulation for the Protection of the UNESCO-listed Hoi An Ancient Town. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusion The predicted rise in weather‐related disasters indicates that many Australian children and their families will be affected by these events in the future. Play therapy, an emerging profession in Australia, may provide valuable support to children exposed to these events.A scoping review was designed to map the existing literature and the role of the play therapist in supporting children (aged 3–12 years) and families following natural disasters, and to formulate a model to guide play therapists in the future.A systematic search of the literature was performed and a total of 25 articles were identified as relevant to the role of the play therapist in response to natural disasters.Play therapists must be mindful of the different phases of natural disaster response and how their role may vary across these phases. In the early stages post‐disaster, a play therapist may be involved in psychoeducation, facilitating therapeutic play and community involvement. More formal clinical play therapy interventions that focus on the individual child or family are better suited to the latter stages of disaster response. There is a need for further research into the impact of natural disasters on children and families and interventions that aid mental health and well‐being, especially for children who may be more vulnerable and potentially overlooked in the wake of such disasters. Further research is also needed into the effectiveness of play therapy as a post‐disaster intervention for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study aims to explore the collective grief manifested on the first anniversary of the earthquake that occurred in Türkiye on February 6, 2023, through the analysis of 10,000 posts on platform X. Designed with qualitative methodology, thematic analysis was conducted, revealing two main themes: “collective grief as a ground for social solidarity” and “politicization of collective grief.” The results indicated that the sharing of emotions as well as rituals, commemoration ceremonies, etc. made collective grief a ground for social solidarity, collective sense-making, and healing. Likewise, the public’s positive or negative reactions to the government’s disaster management emerged as one of the factors politicizing the grief. The reactions to the Syrians and Hatay’s people reveal the public’s perception of “the subject of grief” and “acceptable grief practices.” The study’s main recommendations include but are not limited to, increasing infrastructure work, and developing psycho-social support and social cohesion services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The police sergeant, or equivalent supervisor, is the glue that binds police units together, assigns workloads, and distributes organisational power from ‘above’ to ensure that those in the field play fairly and by the rules. Yet very little empirical research has been undertaken to examine the work of sergeants or consider how these roles impact the ability of police and their partners to manage critical incidents, including complex disasters. Drawing on a case study of disaster policing during Australia’s Black Summer bushfires, this paper examines how police sergeants with two distinct emergency management roles leveraged their authority, relationships, and knowledge to support the effective management of this incident. Using composite accounts, it illustrates how both sergeants drew upon and adapted traditional understandings of their role to negotiate the perceived deficiencies of command-and-control and networked features of complex disaster management systems. The case studies illustrate how the officers’ positionalities (organisationally, geographically, and systemically) enhanced their sensemaking abilities during the crisis, and they utilised their recognised authority, relationships, and soft skills to inform, nudge, and influence a wide range of stakeholders. The paper reveals that police sergeants may be uniquely positioned to assist with the coordination of increasingly complex disaster management assemblages at a time when the neoliberal state’s ability to even ‘steer’ these effectively is increasingly called into question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of global warming, the frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwave events have markedly increased, bearing profound implications for both natural ecosystems and human societies. To effectively cope with this challenge, it is imperative to accurately identify and comprehensively assess the risks posed by heatwaves. This study undertakes a systematic approach and robust methodology to assess heatwave risks by leveraging a diverse array of data sources—encompassing remote sensing, statistical analyses. The methodology integrates the risk triangle theory alongside established risk assessment frameworks laid out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Employing a three‐dimensional evaluation framework encompassing hazard, exposure, and vulnerability, we unravel spatial–temporal patterns, high‐risk zones, and dominant dimensions of heatwave risks contributing to potential disasters. Results indicated that during 1999–2008, roughly 27% of the study areas were affected by high and above risk levels of heatwaves, and the areas with high and very high hazard, exposure, and vulnerability accounted for approximately 19.5%, 10%, and 32.5%, respectively. During 2009–2018, the proportion of areas with high and very high risk, hazard, and exposure increased to about 31%, 26%, and 14%, respectively, while the percentage of areas with high and very high vulnerability decreased to about 24.43%. Notably, Xinjiang and the western part of Northwestern China are characterized by hazard‐dominant conditions, while Southern China's risk profile has shifted from 1999–2008 to 2009–2018 from high hazard and vulnerability conditions to a more complex interaction involving hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. Moreover, Northern China and the northern segment of Southwestern China exhibit simultaneous high‐risk rankings across hazard, exposure, and vulnerability dimensions, forming a comprehensive high‐risk zone. These findings characterize heatwave risk patterns and offer critical insights for risk management decisions, guiding effective disaster prevention and relief measures to ensure socio‐economic stability and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older adults are at high risk of experiencing injury, exacerbations of their chronic conditions, and death when evacuations are ordered because of hurricanes or natural disasters. The Homebound seniors residing in Galveston County are at a particularly high risk of morbidity and mortality during evacuations for hurricanes. This paper described the impact of a quality improvement intervention designed and implemented by nurse practitioners during the 2022 and 2023 hurricane season. The education program aimed at increasing the hurricane preparedness of the home-bound patients. Of these patients, 190 returned pre and post surveys. Interventions showed a 43% increase in patients having an evacuation plan in the event of a hurricane, 633% increase in STEAR registration, 16% increase in patients having access to emergency supplies, and 34% increase in patients having an emergency contact list with up-to-date medication list. All improvements on hurricane preparedness items were significant (p <.0001) except for the need for assistance in case of an evacuation. Our findings suggest a need for continuous hurricane preparedness education in the community to ensure safe evacuation, improve hurricane preparation, and increase the number of seniors who registered with the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Archaeological sites are increasingly threatened by climate-related hazards. In response, heritage management authorities initiated projects to document damage and plan risk assessment measures. We present a project initiated after the heavy rainfall and subsequent flood event of July 2021, which involved extensive fieldwork to document the damage to archaeological sites in the Rhineland. We use this database to characterise and assess the damage and investigate site-specific and geospatial factors to identify potential predictive parameters for site damage. Results: During fieldwork, we found that the flood damaged 19% of the 538 archaeological sites surveyed. The majority of damaged sites are relatively recent, dating from the medieval or modern periods, and are associated with the use of water power. Damage was mainly caused by erosion, floating debris and washout, e.g. mortar. In a case study, we tested the option of comparing pre- and post-disaster Airborne Laser Scanning elevation data to identify damages. It showed that not only the damage detected during fieldwork was found but also additional areas of loss. In general, however, and quantified based on the entire dataset, the ordnance survey Airborne Laser Scanning data were of limited use for monitoring flood-related damage and could not replace fieldwork. Our statistical analysis of possible risk factors, including both site characteristics and geospatial parameters, using Naïve Bayes Modelling and chi-squared tests, showed that no set of parameters could consistently predict the preservation or damage of archaeological sites across all catchments. In contrast, some external geospatial factors correlated with the occurrence of damage. Conclusions: The study highlights both the strengths and limitations of the approaches used to assess and predict the damage to the archaeological heritage in the 2021 flood zones of the Rhineland. It also demonstrates the complexity of the data and spatial processes involved, which limits generalisation but can still inform decision-making for archaeological site management and on-site protection measures in flood-prone areas. With the prospect of more frequent heavy rainfall due to climate change, the specific needs of the archaeological heritage should be integrated into broader prevention and disaster management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]